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Post by gilly on Dec 23, 2005 19:44:06 GMT 1
....or so people keep telling me.
I keep coming up against this now Ginger has gone barefoot, especially with the "old school" types who think all horses need to be shod, and that farriers go through the same training and can trim any horse for any purpose- not just for shoeing.
So....how do you explain to the "non beleivers"?! I have just had a very old friend I haven't seen for ages giving me a lecture saying Ginger's feet aren't any different, how her farrier could have done that etc etc. To be honest her lack of support upset me a bit. Yes it's my horse and my decision, but I would hope that people would be supportive and understanding that I am trying to make life better for him (even if it's not their cup of tea)?!?!?! I am so pleased with how he is doing without his shoes and really happy with him and everything at the moment after getting my confidence back...but ever feel like you're on your own?
Some people are so closed minded...bah humbug...
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tiggs
Olympic Poster
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Post by tiggs on Dec 23, 2005 19:54:22 GMT 1
The farmer next door thinks I'm the most cruel person for having my horses barefoot, I get the feeling he's waiting for one of them to go lame to gloat and "Told you so". I've given up trying to get him to understand the reasoning behind my decision, some people eh?
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sugar
Elementary Poster
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Post by sugar on Dec 23, 2005 19:54:23 GMT 1
Yes. The liveries on my last yard were all traditional old school and told me I was cruel for removing my boy's shoes and getting an EP to trim him. This was after their favourite yard farrier had lamed him and chopped his toes off. My current yard are happy to let me get on with it.
Have you had a look the Enlightened Equitation forums? - there a plenty of sane and sensible people on there who have gone barefoot successfully and they are a really friendly and supportive bunch.
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sharon
Elementary Poster
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Post by sharon on Dec 23, 2005 19:59:40 GMT 1
Most of my horses have been unshod for years with shoes being put on during the summer months only as they were going a bit foot sore, since having a KC Trimmer do my ponies feet that need has not arrisen, and that included some pretty stoney going this year too.
I do the odd tidy up in between and so far they have been really good, I also have another that only I trim, and to be honest he is going just as well if not better than he did when the farrier trimmed him.
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Post by jenniwren on Dec 23, 2005 20:02:31 GMT 1
Hi Gilly, Just don't take any notice! I have two horses barefoot. My 10 yr old Chestnut PBA,Sharnina, has never been shod and I have ridden her on the Mary T loop 42 miles or so. The other a Welsh Cob of 24 years has been shod till Foot and Mouth year when she had laminitis. Farriers after kept trimming her far too high off her heals and looking back I would think this caused her to be reluctant to 'go' forward. She was extreemly uncomfortable. I bought Sharnina as a result. The last 18 months - 2 years has seen an immense change in the cob's feet. I cried at the last trim when we found out that we had reached a milestone and got to a point that the hoof wall no longer separated from the sole! Why with all the training a traditional farrier couldn't achieve this is beyond comprehension. I makes me angry that Jewel was put through this for so long!! I am more knowledgeable now and do interim trims on my own. I would never do anyone else's horse. You are not on your own in this... continue on this and you will see the benefit. Prove the brainwashed sceptics wrong!!
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Post by chrissiew on Dec 23, 2005 22:23:58 GMT 1
Gilly, I've just started the barefoot route too with my TBxWB mare, she's had two visits from an EP so far, been BF on the hinds since August and fine on those, but only BF on the fronts for 4 weeks, so still trying to grow the hoof she wants and needs.
Luckily for me my friends have been 110% supportive (even if they think I'm slightly barmy!), but I have had "concerned" comments and looks from other die hard traditionalists on the yard when my mare walks a bit footy over the very short bit of difficult surface she needs to get from her stable to the field. I am trying very very hard to just ignore it, but it is getting me down too - I echo above, join the Enlightened Equitation barefoot forum, you really will not get a more knowledgable, supportive and friendly set of people for the barefoot journey.
Good luck.
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Post by marywelsh on Dec 23, 2005 22:34:18 GMT 1
otter has always been barefoot on behind and with him having so much time off i decided to go barefoot on front aswell, my farrier was the one who suggested it and is a traditional farrier but has kept up todate with with his training etc. it makes such a refreshing change to have a farrier at last who is pleasent ,informative and willing to work with you. we keep a close eye on otter now he is back in work and i would take the advise from my farrier on where to go next
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Post by Yann on Dec 23, 2005 23:07:41 GMT 1
I'm very lucky in that respect, I'm at a yard where there were horses working without shoes before the barefoot thing started. Several people tried barefoot with their horses long before I did, so I was able to watch and learn from their experiences. One of them is now a trainee EP and gradually taking over the trimming duties.
Some farriers do do a trim that will keep a working horse sound, but many seem to take more wall and sole off than a trimmer would, after all the trim they initially train to do is either to prepare for shoeing or keep a non working foot in a state where it can be later be reshod.
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Lydia00
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Post by Lydia00 on Dec 23, 2005 23:35:40 GMT 1
Please could someone explain to me about going barefoot? It sounds interesting as ive never heard the benefits of it/what it entails? Thankyou
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Nicola
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Post by Nicola on Dec 24, 2005 0:11:36 GMT 1
Hi lydia There is a page on my website about barefoot www.holisiticequine.co.uk and more information on ww.equinepodiatry.net Very best wishes, Nicola
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Post by Susan on Dec 26, 2005 1:19:55 GMT 1
Gilly I have had the same remarks and the looks of concern when like another BF livery he is a little hesitant to walk out on the stony bit to get to his field. sound familar! But what proved he has not real problems was the other evening to me about Flynn, his field mate walked by as we came to walk out of the field ( his usual I cant walk on that bit!!) then suddenly walked as per "Normal" and nearly ran into the yard. They were no where to be seen then!
But it is hard, I have my YO say the trimmer is a load of rubbish and isnt doing anything different to a standard farriers trim! I am being conned into paying out money I dont need to!
But after the hind feet proved her wrong, did she say Susan I was wrong his back feet look great and he is dojng so well, Did she B****** .. In fact she has even said they dont look any different!!!!!!!!!!!! as an argument..wheich we nearly had a stand up row over! I was so amgry. she has to be B****** blind to not see the vast improvement.
But I keep this in my head, she picks on the likes of me and another livery for allowing our poor horses to suffer because we appear easy targets to have a go at.
We have a livery who keeps her horse in really unhealthy conditions and he had a infected wound she ignored for over a week, till the vet was out for another horse and they rang her and suggested a vet to look at it.. then she ummmed and arrred. not once did they jump down at her ..but she would jump down there throats!so they dont dare. Now tell me that is real welfare interest.
No we just go against the grain dont we?
Also that same livery had her horses shoes off just after Flynn had his fronts off around May this year ( only because her instructor said if you dont do something about his feet soon, you will have no horse!) , and nothing different was done to help this horse who was very footy! in fact she hacked him out around the village a day or so later and he was so very very sore. His feet were terrible and standard farrier trim was done. He stands in a unrine soaked bed days on end and YO says nothing. That horses stood no chance. So to YO that is why BF doesnt work. But I saw today shoes are back on, not a bad thing if they wont do anything to help the horse.
Gilly you have to do what is best for your horse and you. I have friends who dont understand me and argue few horses can go BF. That is their right to have that opinion. IT is true if the route to a healthy BF horses needs work the owner wont o5r cant do. What would be nice was if they,,when it does work would stand back and say..Hey I was wrong and so pleased it has worked for you and what a great result.!
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Post by breezeocean4tray on Dec 26, 2005 6:06:11 GMT 1
There is 5 horses on our yard......
1 a young T/B filly who is unshod at the moment, and im not sure what the owner is going to do....nice feet walking sound no probs
1 sec D gelding 5yr old who is shod....nice feet walking sound no probs
1 T/B mare 10 yr old who is b/f trimmed by an EP....nice feet mostly walking sound no probs
And then theres my 2 girls
1 sec D mare 6 yr old who was shod 3 times at 3-4 yrs old and then has been b/f since....Trimmed by my farrrier.....nice feet walking sound no probs
1 Irish Gypsy Cob 13 yrs old as far as i know has never been shod, trimmed by my farrier, and not the same farrier as horse above with shoes.....nice feet walking sound
Horses have been b/f since time began.
I dont think alot of the issues that arise with ie friends, yo, etc are with going b/f its who is doing the trimming....
EP,s are a fairly new concept and horror stories are now getting about...... Farriers have been around for hundreds of yrs, and equally have there fair share of horror stories.....
I personally wouldn,t have an EP trim my girls feet, as im extremely happy with my farrier..... But if i wasn,t happy with him, and couldn,t find an excellent farrier, then i would have an EP, trim my girls as opposed to a farrier with a bad reputation.....
As you can see on our yard we have the lot. Our horses well being is the most important thing to us all. All our horses have very happy healthy lives, and feet.
I was personally concerned about the mare who was being trimmed by the EP, but will say here, and have said to her owner, her feet and soundness have improved a great deal.
So wether shod/b/f, trimmed by a farrier/EP, no one individual is right and equally no one is wrong.
We respect each other as people and horse owners, also our ideas/dreams, and we all know if help was ever needed by any one of us, we would all be there saying, "what can we do to help"......
If your horse/s are loved well cared for in every respect, and you are being ridiculed, slated, talked about behind your back, then i think those people have the problem, and need to look at themseleves as a person/horse owner......
We all need to do what is right for our horse/s as indivduals, and not what the self opinionated people (who prob have alot to say on any given subject) say what we should do.
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Post by Louise C on Dec 26, 2005 14:31:28 GMT 1
breeze - you are so lucky to have a farrier that will do a decent trim. I have used at least 5 different farriers to trim Flynn and they all end up saying he will need shoeing, hey ho swop to a KC Trimmer and it all starts to fall into place, I have ridden more this year than any other with feet in better condition now than ever before.
Gilly - we have to go by what the horse says and be happy with that:-)
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Post by mandal on Dec 26, 2005 15:19:15 GMT 1
You are not alone!!!! I've just posted for bicky, no one near me is interested in barefoot horses and they think I'm mad and incompetant! So I've gone it alone after researching and reading Jamie Jacksons books I'm a total convert, it just makes so much sense to me. My horses are sound,surefooted and happy! That's all I care about.
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Post by pameustace on Dec 26, 2005 19:02:01 GMT 1
I am the mad person on the block here too' I am barefoot bittless and my saddle is treeless when I use one' I don't care what people say as long as my horses are sound and happy' just keep up with what suits you and your horse' remember a little drop if water can wear away a mighty rock' people will see eventually'
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